Head of School John C. Warren ’74 recently announced the appointment of veteran educator Ava Archibald to the position of Director of Community & Equity Affairs at St. Mark’s. Her responsibilities will include overseeing the creation and implementation of a strategic approach for the School to pursue meaningful, transformative opportunities that consistently move the community towards increased awareness, respect, inclusivity, and equity. “Ava Archibald brings to St. Mark’s,” Warren observed, “great sophistication of thinking about how best to move diversity and inclusivity issues forward, impressive depth of commitment to this work, and rich experience with adolescents and adults.”
Ms. Archibald is currently at the Cambridge School of Weston leading diversity work and teaching English. She earned a BA in Mass Communication and English Literature from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, and an MLA in English and American Literature from Harvard. She has also taught English at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, and at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, H. Lavity Stout Community College in the British Virgin Islands, and British Virgin Islands High School. In addition, she has been a curriculum consultant and writer for the Boston Center for Community and Justice.
The Director of Community & Equity Affairs at St. Mark’s will lead and be assisted by the School’s Community and Equity Committee in the planning and implementation of various programs and activities to further the overall inclusivity and awareness of the School community.
“I see my role as a supportive one; hopefully helping others to do their jobs effectively with a social justice lens in mind,” says Ms. Archibald. ”In addition, I see my role as working with students and teachers to help St. Marks become an even more inclusive community than it already is.”
Ava Archibald will be joined by her husband, Brian Walker, and their one year-old daughter, Olivia. Mr. Walker, author of Black Boy White School (Harper Collins, 2012), will be Writer-in-Residence at St. Mark’s.
The Director of Community and Equity Affairs is a new position at St. Mark’s, an evolution from the part time position of Director of Multicultural Affairs, held for the past three years by Hebe Fuller. “Hebe Fuller has done great work as Director of Multicultural Affairs,” stated Warren; “she has created an outstanding foundation for Ava Archibald to build upon.” Mr. Warren also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Ms. Fuller in co-chairing this search. The Head of School also complimented the efforts of the Community and Equity Affairs Committee, which created the job description and played a major role in the interview process.